Refrigerator car construction



Sept. 29, 1942.. c. D. BoNsALL 2,296,900

REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCTION Original Filed May 16, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 29, 1942. c. D. BQNSALL 2,296,900,

REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUGT ION Original` Filed Ma'y 16, -194() 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 29, 1942.

C. D. BONSALL REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCTION Original Filed May 16, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 @if m Patented Sept. 29, 1942 REFRIGERAT'OR CAR CONSTRUCTION Charles D'. Bonsall, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Standard Railway Devices Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Original application May 16, 1940, Serial No. 335,445. Divided and this application January 26, 1942, Serial No. 428,156

8 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerator cars used to transport perishable commodities at a predetermined temperature. The essential features of a refrigerator car are an insulated body to prevent or retard ingress of heat during warm weather and egress of heat during cold weather, and a cooling means and a heating means to be used during warm and cold weather respectively.

This invention applies particularly to cars in which the cooling means, preferably containers for water ice, eutectic ice, brine or dry ice, are disposed immediately below the roof of the car. The lading is supported in spaced relation to the fioor by a foraminous rack. Flues, preferably associated with the side walls of the car, communicate between the cooling means and the space under the floor rack to provide a path for the circulation of air. The path is from the cooling means downwardly through the aforementioned flues, through the space under the floor rack, upwardly through the lading compartment thereby cooling the lading, and finally to the cooling means from where the cycle is repeated.

An object of the invention is to provide means to prevent surging of the liquid refrigerant within the refrigerant container during service movements of the car. Y

A refrigerant container used in a car of this type is commonly provided with apertures spaced a substantial distance above the bottom of the container for overow of liquid from the container as described in Bonsall Patent No. 2,168,556 of August 8, 1939. A further object, consequently, is to prevent the loss of an excessive amount of refrigerant through the overflow apertures. I disclose herein two methods of preventing such excessive loss of liquid refrigerant.

First, by the provision of a relatively small channel communicating with the interior of the container and apertures communicating between the channel and the exterior of the container so that small quantities of liquid refrigerant may escape from the channel but large quan-v tities are retained in the container.

Second, by the provision of .the overflow apertures in the central portion of the containerl rather than in the end portions. The liquid refrigerant within the refrigerant container surges lengthwise of the container during service movements of .the car and builds up against the end wall of the container. The liquid when in this position would overflow in large quantities through the apertures if such apertures lwere in `the end portions of the container, Surge retarding means, such as an upstanding balile, is preferably positioned opposite the apertures to reduce the possibility of large waves of surging refrigerant being thrown through the apertures.

Another object is to provide a reinforcement for the bottom of the tank, which reinforcement also functions as a bafe means to retard surging of a liquid refrigerant as hereinabove pointed out. A further object is to arrange such baffle means and reinforcement to have sufficient stability to resist lateral movement of the refrigerant.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in combination with the reinforcing and baffle means, provision for retaining substantially equal liquid levels in all parts of the container.

A further object is to provide a refrigerant container which may be economically manufactured. I .show in one modification a container comprising a liquid retaining tank made of substantially thin metallic sheet and a support for such tank made of relatively heavy structural members. The advantages of such construction are that the thin tank may be made from standard galvanized or corronized sheets which effectively resist corrosion and avoid the disadvantage of the poor bond sometimes existing between the steel and zinc in hot dipped galvanized material; the reinforcement may be either hot dipped galvanized after assembly or used in the ungalvanized condition. Another advantage of such construction is that the thin tank, being of substantially uniform thickness in all parts, may be hot dipped galvanized after assembly without the danger of warping which is present when structures consisting of relatively thin and relatively thick parts are galvanized.

Another object is to provide a combination reinforcingand baille means which consists of an inverted channel member secured at both anges thereof to the bottom of the container and to pro- -vide apertures in said bottom below the channel so that moisture condensed upon the interior of the walls of the channel may be drained off without corroding the channel.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed description by referring to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partial transverse section of a refrigerator car embodying one modification of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section through the refrigerant container of Fig, l as indicated by the line 2-2.

Fig. 3 is a plan View with certain parts broken away of the refrigerant container shown in Figs. l and 2. Y

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through a modified form of refrigerant container.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Figs. 6 and '1 are perspective views of the cradle type support and the liquid retaining tank, respectively, of the container shown in Figs. lV and 5.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section through another modified form of refrigerant container.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the container shown Fig. 8.

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal elevational View of another modified form of refrigerant container.

Fig. ll is a horizontal section on line I of Fig. 10.

The general parts of the refrigerator car shown in Fig. 1 are insulated roof A; side wall B; floor D; refrigerant container E; hatch F for loading refrigerant into the container E; sidewall nue G'; foraminous floor rack H and Space J between the rack H and the floor D. A refrigerant container E is positioned directly below the roof A and adjacent a side wall B. A drip pan Klis' provided below the container E and a partition L is disposed in an upstanding position at the edge of the' drip pan K. The drip pan K and the partition L cooperate with the roof A and the upper part of side wall B to form an enclosure M around the container E, an air inlet opening N to the enclosure M being provided by spacing the partition L from the roof A. An air discharge opening P leads from the enclosure M to the flue G at a lower elevation than the air inlet opening N. Cars of this type commonly have a row of refrigerant containers E near each side wall B, which containers are spaced apart at the center of the car. The partitions L are also spaced apart to form a duct Q which communicates between the lading compartment R and openings N.

Air circulation i's as follows: Air in the lading compartment R is warmed by contact with the lading and rises through the duct Q to enter the enclosing structures M through the air inlet openings N. rlhe air is then cooled by contact with the cold refrigerant containers E and falls by reason of its lower temperature, and therefore greater density, through the discharge openings P and flues G to the space J whence' it rises through the rack H to the lading compartment R. The above described cycle is thereafter cone tinuously repeated.

Each side wall B of the refrigerator car shown in Fig. l is comprised of a metal side sill 2i, wooden side sill 3 secured to the metal sill 2 and spaced apart posts 5 upstanding from the wooden sill 3 and attached thereto by means of the long'ie tudinally extending angle 6. The side plate 8 is preferably made of wood and secured to the' upper ends of the posts 5. Side wall insulation blankets 9, i8 are disposed on both sides of the posts 5 and the upper edge of the inner blanket 9 is compressed between the angle |3 and the cleats |43, thereby supporting the inner blanket 9.

Metallic flue sheets I6 having outwardly projecting panels |1 formed therein are secured at their upper edges I3 to the cleats |4. Side wall lining 28 is secured in flatwise relation with the flue sheets |5, thereby forming the side wall flues G between the panels |1 and the lining 20. The

side wall sheathing 22 extends between and, is

secured to the sid-e plate 8, and side sill 3. The

outer insulation blanket l0 is clamped between the sheathing 22 and side plate 8. Spaced apart carlines 23 which, in modification shown are I-beams, extend between the opposite side walls B of the car and are secured preferably to the posts 5. Brackets 25 are provided for attaching the refrigerant containers E to the carlines 23. The drip pan K is shown hinged to the side wall B, preferably at the upper edge of the lining 2D, and latch-ing means 21 is provided at the center of the car so that the drip pan K may be swung downwardly when it is desired to clean or repair` the drip pan K or refrigerant container E. Upstanding marginal members 28 are provided on the transverse edges of the drip pan K, which members 'eX-tend into inverted channel Shaped rheiibelsy 38 secured to the under sides of the carlines 23. The depending flanges 3| of the channel members 3|! rest upon parts of the drip pansv K to prevent leakage of liquid through the space 32 between drippans In the form# of refrigerant container 3-3 shown in- Figs. 1 to 3,` the bottom 35 and the side walls 36 are made integral and the ends walls 38 are made separately and rigidly secured, preferably by Welding, to the bottom and side walls 36. The top 39 of the container 3-3 is formed with depending flanges 4|Y adapted to align with the side walls 36 and are secured thereto by a rela-` tively vremovable means, such as rivets or bolts 42. The top 33 is' secured to the end walls 3B by similar means. The supporting structure 44 consists of purlins 45- extending lengthwise of the container 33 at the lower corners thereof, which purlins 45 extend slightly beyond the ends of thecontainer 313 and are attached to the brackets 25. Spaoed apart LJ-shape members 41 are secured to the purlins 45, which members 41- each comprise a` brace '48 subjacent the bott-om 35 of the container and upstanding arms 50 adjacent the sidewalls 36 of the container. The members 41, therefore, form acradle-like structure 44 in which the bottom 35 and side walls 36 of the container rest. The arms 50 may be securedv to `the side walls 36l of the container by any suitable means, such as riveting or welding. A reinforcing means 53, which also functions as a baffle to retard surging of the refrigerant, is secured to the bottom 3 5 of thel container 33. The reinforcing means 53 is preferably an inv erted chan-nel member 54 secured a-t both flanges 56 thereofto the bottom 35 of the container and arranged to extend lengthwise of the container (i. e., transversely to the end walls 38) below the hatch F so thatrefrigerant loaded through the hatch Fmay fall onboth sides of the channel member 54. r) The ends 51 of the channelmember 54 are preferably spaced fromthe end walls 38 of the container so that the liquid level in all parts of the container is substantially the s... Apertures 60 are usually provided in the side wall 6| of the container 33 which is adjacent the center of the car for overflow of liquid refrigerant fr om the container. -'onsall patent No. -2, 168,55 6 ofv August S, 1.939, shows a container adapted to overflow liquid refrigerant adjacent the center of the 'car' and points out the advantages of s uch overflow. As indicated in Fig'. '3,

the overflow apertures are vlilmit'ed to approximately the central third of the side wall 6| of the container 33. The portions 63 of the side walls 36 adjacent each end wall 3'8 are 'i substantial-ly imperio-rate soV that when a liquid refrigerant surges against the end walls 38 during service movements of the car, the refrigerant builds up to a considerable depth and the imperforate end portions 63 retain the refrigerant within the container. Ihe inverted channel member 54 is disposed opposite the overflow apertures 69, as shown in Fig. 3, to reduce the magnitude of sidewise surging of the refrigerant, thereby reducing the amount of liquid which surges through the overiiow apertures 69. The inverted channel member 54 is secured, preferably bywelding along the lower edges of both flanges B, to the bottom 35 of the container 33. The ends 51 of the channel member 54 are imperforate to retain liquid within the container. The part 64 of the container bottom 35 which is disposed below the channel member 54 is preferably provided with openings 99 which may be a plurality of relatively small apertures or a continuous slot so that moisture condensed from the air within the channel may drain therefrom, thereby preventing corrosion of the channel.

The refrigerant container 19 shown in Figs. 4-'1 comprises a tank 1I of relatively thin sheet material and a tank supporting cradle-like structure 13 for supporting the tank 1I. In the modification shown, the tank 1| is made with the bottom 14 and both side (16) and end (11) walls all integral; the side and end walls being welded together at the corners of the tank. .1

The top 19 may be secured to the upper parts of the side and end walls by any suitable means.

The supporting structure 13 comprises spaced apart purlins 89, one disposed adjacent each side wall 16 of the tank 1| and arranged to extend beyond the end walls 11 thereof so that the ends 82 of the purlins 39 may be supported within the car. Suitable supporting brackets are shown in Fig. 1. A plurality of spaced apart U-shape members 83 span the distance between the purlins 80 and form a cradle structure in which the relatively thin tank 1I is supported. The U- shape members 83 and the side walls 15 of the tank 1I are preferably divergent upwardly so that the tank, due to its own weight and the weight of the refrigerant contained therein, nests snugly into the cradle-like supporting structure 13. Clips 85 may be secured to the U-shape members adjacent the opposite ends of the supporting structure, which clips 85 extend substantially above the bottom of such members and prevent endwise sliding of the tank 1| within the supporting structure 13.

The container shown in Figs. 4-'1 has manufacturing advantages as follows: The relatively thin tank 1| may be either galvanized (by a hot dipping process) after assembly or made from previously galvanized or corronized commercial sheet, whereas the relatively heavy supporting structure 13 may be galvanized after assembly or used in the ungalvanized condition. In either case, the two piece construction permits treating the tank and supporting structure individually and thereby eliminates the danger of warpage which is present when an attempt is made to galvanize a unit structure having both thick and thin parts.

One or both of the side walls 16 of the tank 1| may be provided with apertures 88 for overflow of liquid refrigerant for the purpose hereinabove pointed out. As shown in Fig. 4, a channel member 89 with the web 9| substantially vertical is secured to one or both of the side walls 15 of the tank 1l in such a position that the web 9| of the channel member is disposed in spaced relation to the apertures 83. .'Ihe web 9| of the channel member prevents large quantities of liquid from surging from within the tank 1| through the apertures 98. The channel member 89 in combination with the sidewall 16 forms a channel 92 associated with said side wall, which channel 92 is provided with the apertures 88 leading from the channel 92 to the exterior of the container 19. The channel 92 is open at its ends 94 so that liquid may overflow from the container 19 through the open ends 94 of the channel 92 and thence through the apertures B8 to the exterior of the container. It is pointed out, however, that the maximum amount of liquid which can be lost during any surge is the amount which is retained within the channel 92 and the channel 92 is preferably relatively small in order to minimize the loss of liquid.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 9, the bottom 91 and side walls 98 of the container |09 are formed integral and the end walls |9| are made separate and secured to the bottom 91 and side walls 98, preferably by welding. The top |93 of the container |99 may be formed as shown in Figs. 1-3. The baie means |94, which also reinforces the bottom of the container, is substantially similar to that shown in Figs. 1-3.

1 Fig. 9, however, shows a long slot |99 in the botreference to Figs. 4 to 7.

tom of the container |99 below the baille means |94 in place of the small apertures 99 shown in Fig. 3. The transverse reinforcing members |91 preferably each comprise a brace |99 subjacent the bottom 91 of the container |99 and an upstanding arm I|9 at each end of the brace |99, the arms being disposed adjacent the side walls 98 of the container |99. Each of such members I 91 may be secured to the bottom 91 or side walls 98 of the container |99 or both. In such a construction the longitudinally extending baflie means |94 cooperates with the transversely eX- tending reinforcing members |91 to form a relatively rigid grid to support the bottom of the container |99.

Figs. 10 and 11 show a modified form of channel I|4 associated with one of the side walls H9 of the container H5. The channel member IIB is secured on the outside of the container I I5 and is comprised of a vertical web H9 disposed in spaced relation to the side wall IIS of the container I|5. Flanges 2| of the channel member IIB are secured to the side wall IIB and end closures |22 for the channel I|4 are also secured to the side wall I I6. An aperture |24 is provided near each end of the channel I|4 leading from the interior of the container ||5 to the interior of the channel ||4 and a plurality of other apertures |25 are provided at the central part of the channel I |4 leading from the interior of the channel |I4 to the exterior of the container H5.A The channel I|4 shown in Figs. 10 and l1 prevents excessive overflow of liquid refrigerant in a manner similar to that hereinabove described in The channel ||4 is preferably pitched downwardly toward the ends |21 thereof so that moving through the channel I I4 has a tendency to wash dirt and other foreign matter toward the ends thereof to prevent clogging of the channel.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form o-f the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that various modifications thereof, within the scope of the claims, will occur to persons skilled in the art.

This is a division of my application filed May 16, 1940, Serial No. 335,445.

I claim:

1. In a refrigerator car a refrigerant container having side and end walls, a Substantially vertical baille within said container extending substantially parallel with said side walls in spaced relation thereto and having the ends thereof spaced from said end walls, and an aperture in one of said side walls in spaced relation to said bottom, said aperture being spaced from each of said end walls at least as far as the end of said baille adjacent thereto.

2. In a refrigerator car a refrigerant container having side and end walls, a substantially vertical baille within said container extending substantially parallel with said side walls in spaced relation thereto and having the ends thereof spaced from said end walls, and a plurality of apertures `in one of said side walls in spaced relation to said bottom, each of said apertures being spaced from each of said end walls at least as far as the end of said baffle adjacent thereto.

3. In a refrigerator car a refrigerant container having side fand end walls and a bottom, a substantially vertical baille within said container, said baille comprising an inverted channel member secured at both flanges thereof to said botspaced from each of said end walls at least as far as the end of said baille adjacent thereto.

5. In a refrigerator car a refrigerant container having a bottom and spaced apart walls, a substantially horizontal channel associated with one of said walls in spaced relation to said bottom, said channel being substantially closed eX-cept for openings adjacent its ends leading to the interior of the container, and apertures intermediate its ends leading to the container.

6. In a refrigerator car a refrigerant container having a bottom and spaced apart walls, a substantially horizontal channel associated with one of said Walls in spaced relation to said bottom, said channel being substantially closed except for openings adjacent its ends leading to the interior of the container, and apertures intermediate its ends leading to the exterior of the container, said channel being inclined downwardly toward said ends.

'7. In a refrigerator car a refrigerant container having a bottom `-and spaced apart walls, a substantially horizontal channel associated with one of said walls in spaced relation to said bottom, said channel formed by a member having spaced apart flanges secured to said last mentioned Wall and a substantially vertical web spaced from said wall, said channel being substantially closed eX- cept for openings adjacent its ends leading to the interior of the container, and apertures intermediate its ends leading to the exterior of the container.

8. In a refrigerator car a refrigerant container having a bottom and spaced apart walls, a substantially horizontal channel in spaced relation to said bottom formed by a web disposed in spaced relation to one of said walls on the interior thereof, said channel being open at its ends, and apertures in said last mentioned wall communicating between said channel and the eX- terior of said container.

CHARLES D. BONSALL. 

